Last week, I had a screwdriver through the side of my stock Wrangler AP. I took it to the tire store only to have it pronounced DOA with a massive irreversible sidewall puncture. I told them fine, get me two new Wrangler AP's for the front and put the spare back and I'll have one extra tire. They called me when it was ready and when I went to pick it up it had Wrangler RT-S's on the front and the two best AP's on the back. I got pretty upset with the guy at the counter and told them if I have a problem then they are getting the RT-S's back. He said ok and they would order the AP's for me and n/c installation for them. Or if I liked the RT-S's I could buy two more for cost when I need them and n/c installation. I called the local Good Year store and asked which version of the Wrangler tire was the better one. The guy said that they did me a huge favor with the screw up and that the
RT-S is far better than the AP for truck applications. Especially when the truck is used as a truck.

The RT-S's have been on for a week and I must agree he was right on. The truck drives much better (no more pull to the right) steers easier and even looks a little better. The RT-S's are a little noisier and ride a tiny bit rougher but I like them very much. It is a bummer though since the AP were wearing so nicely and I have mismatched tires now. I think I will keep the AP's on back for another 10k or so and go get two more RT-S's (barring anymore screwdriver incidents).

My question is: Is there some property that tires have that can make them pull? The AP's have linear, evenly spaced rows on the tread and the RT-S's have a tiger paw type of tread. Does that have a lot to do with it? Which tire is better for hauling 1200lbs. of tools and other crapola around constantly? I am getting confused with the bigger tires. I always had Rangers before and used Cooper Cobras or anything that was on sale (14"). Thanks in advance.

[This message has been edited by seacrow (edited 05-04-2000).]

 

Not trying to bash the RT/S or your choice, but I'd just about give you mine. They are the worst tires I've ever had especially on wet pavement. When you get the RT/S/s on the back you'll see what I mean.

If you are consistantly hauling 1200 lbs of "stuff" around I'd go for a truck tire in the LT rating. Something like LT265/75 -16 instead of the P metric you currently have.
The LT tire has a stiffer sidewall, and is made for heavier use. Id does have a bit of a stiffer ride too.

To answer your question about pull. It could be a lot of things one of which could be the tire. If your other tires were pulling to the right I would have checked air pressure first then alignment. If alignment is out your new tires will soon bear wearing wrong and pull as well.

-jeff b.



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2000 F150 4x4 SC/SB 5.4 Auto, Tow Package, ORP (with the sticker for 2000), Cab Steps, Lariet.
Oxford White/Harvest Gold 2 tone.

 

I work for Good Year and the RT/S are the better of the two you will get a longer life out of them than the AP's. I would go and get two more of the RT/S you should be good to go for about 45k that is what I am seeing people getting out of them deppending on how you drive to. The worst of there truck tires are the AT/S thats what I have right now but I am putting on the new MT/R's (305/70R16) hope they hold up, what are they telling you is the cost on the other two let me know and I will tell if they are screwing you on the other two...Hope this helps
Allan

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1999 F150 Bright Red Extended Cab 4x4 Off Road, With Gray Interior, 5.4L, 3.73 Gears,

Add On's for now!
Access Tunnel Cover
Stainless Steel Nerf Bars
Stainless Steel Rocker Pannels
Putco Bed Rails
Clear Turn Signals
Flowmaster Exhaust
Lund Bug Guard
GTS Head Light Covers
Painted Vent Shades
Painted Taillight Covers
Painted X-Cab Covers
K&N A
Red ir Filter W/ Air Box Mod
Stering Wheel Cover
Pionneer CD Deck

Wish List: F1 Ram Air Hood, Tinted Side Windows, Brushguard, Wiper Crawl, Lift W/ 34" M/T Tires, ETC...

 

seacrow,
i have the RT/S GY's on my 99 and they're not all that bad. i have 20,000 on them and plan to get another 20, or close. you and i have something in common with our hauling. i often carry 12-1500 pounds in my truck. the GY's don't handle as well as the 10 ply 235/85's i'll go to next time. i have always switched to a 10 ply when the factory tires wear out. just something you might want to consider. btw, if you put the RT/S's on the back of your truck be careful in deep water, or pouring rain, they don't like this very much. way too slick at take-off, and a tendency to hydroplane ( even for me, and i am an extremely slow driver) anyway, good luck with your tires, Rich

 

Just to let you all know I had 72,000 on my RT's when I took them off and was about 3/18's of an inch away from the wear bar. I absolutely hated them and as you can see in my signature I now have some really sweet kick a$$ tires/wheels.

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1997 F-150,XLT, Ext-Cab, 4x4, ORP, 2.5" Straight Pipe Dual Exhaust, Tinted Windows, Clarion CD-Player, Oval Taillght Covers, Carbon Fiber Bug Shield, Edelbrock IAS Shocks, Cobra CB, Mickey Thompson 16x8 Challenger Wheels, 305 70 R16 Goodyear Mud Terrains

 

AP's suck
RT/S don't suck as much.

Whomever put the screw driver through your AP's did you a favor. While you got em over a barrel hump em for all you can get Seacrow.

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2000 F-250 Super Duty, SuperCab XLT, Oxford white with medium grey cloth captains chairs, 5.4L Triton V8 (260 HP version!), 4R100 4 Speed Automatic Transmission, 4 wheel ABS, Deluxe Aluminum Wheels, Trailer Towing Package, Class IV Hitch, Reece load distribution system, Escort Sensor II Electronic Brake controller, K&N filter, Sure Stop towing skirt, "Westin" black powder coated step bars, "White-White" head lamps, Herculiner bed liner, ISSPRO Tranny Temp Guage, Excursion center console.

 

The APs are one of the worst tires i've ever owned

 

Ditto 54regcab!

 

The Goodyear AP's on my truck do okay on dry pavement but if there just a little rain no matter how easy you get on it the rear tires are going to spin.

 

Thanks for the responses guys. I had surgery on my mouth this week and not been in the mood for the pc. I have decided to keep the AP's for a while and get a couple of more RT-S's. I think they do what I want them to do good enough. MN99F-150, the cost would be around $75 per tire. I think it is fair. I never have any slipping with either tire. Again, I carry about 1500lbs with me all of the time and I have 3.55LS. I plan on keeping the truck for around ten years and will upgrade to LT tires over that time. I will live with the mismatched tires for now.

Thanks again.